The world of Tzu Chi January 2020 (Vol.118)

TZU CHI 118 59 Ng Hui Ling A nutritionist with a Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and a Master’s degree in Sports Science, who served at the Singapore Heart Foundation before becoming self-employed, providing dietary consultations to vegetarians and writing a nutrition column for a health magazine. consulting a professional for advice. Some individuals demonstrate symptoms of ARFID but are unaware that their selective avoidance of food constitutes an eating disorder. If these ARFID patients remain undiagnosed, their health may be negatively affected in the long run due to nutritional deficiencies, as reflected in the teenager’s ordeal. According to the teenager’s attending doctor, he was severely lacking in nutrients, causing the deterioration of his optic nerves. Early detection and treatment is key in preventing the adverse effects of nutrient deficiency in the first place. In my opinion, the mother at the restaurant was convinced that a diet based entirely on fries was the main culprit in the teenager’s loss of eyesight. I believe we know better than to substitute proper meals for junk food that are as high in calories, fat and salt as fries at the expense of our health, but asserting that indulging in fries is directly linked to loss of vision seems an exaggerated claim to impart to children. Many have expected us to impose a “no fries” rule on Rui Jia, yet this assumption is far from the truth. To illustrate my point, allow me to share an anecdote of our trust in Rui Jia’s capacity for self-discipline. Candies are not my cup of tea, but I used to have a sweet tooth as a child. Rui Jia, on the other hand, was content with the occasional candy or two as treats from friends and family during her preschool years. After entering primary school, candies started appearing more regularly in Rui Jia’s life as small tokens gifted by classmates and teachers, stashed away in her schoolbag. At that time, she favoured a particular brand of candy and requested for a bagful, which I obliged. I entrusted her with an intricate glass jar to store the candies in, along with the responsibility of keeping her candy intake and oral hygiene in check. Several acquaintances disapproved of the degree of autonomy granted to Rui Jia, while some of my friends teased that I am fortunate enough to be blessed with a daughter with an inborn sense of self-discipline. I brushed aside the speculations, as I agree with Master Cheng Yen’s view that “Parents and teachers are capable of disciplining even the most incorrigible child; the key is to seek a suitable approach”. I could not emphasize enough the importance of adopting a “suitable approach” to parenting. There are many ways to discourage a child from snacking on junk food. Instead of enforcing restrictions on candy intake, I have decided to allow Rui Jia free rein in exploring and developing sensible dietary choices, besides learning to curb her cravings for foods that appeal to the palate but take a toll on her health. My ultimate hope is to instil in Rui Jia the independent ability to weigh the consequences before reaching for another candy.